Children’s Special Health Services Clinics

Children’s Special Health Services (CSHS) is the principal public agency ensuring that children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) in Louisiana have access to health care services. The services are designed to minimize their disabilities and maximize their probabilities of enjoying independent and self-sufficient lives.

Children and youth who have special health care needs are those who have or are at increased risk for a chronic physical, developmental, behavioral or emotional condition and require health and related services beyond what other children or youth require. CSHS strives to support all children and youth with special health care needs through direct service clinics, provider support, and community outreach.

Our Clinics

In our direct service clinics, CSHS serves Louisiana residents under the age of 21 who are diagnosed or suspected to have certain chronic physical illnesses or serious disabilities that are likely to cause impairments which could significantly limit major life activities.  CSHS serves the broader population of children and youth with special health care needs through community and provider engagement activities by providing health education tools, resources, and expert technical assistance to providers. Use the map on this page to find a clinic near you.

Additional Resources We Provide

The CSHS program also has these resources for families:

• Specialty medical care services & family support services at clinics across the state.
• The Family Resource Center virtual resource hub to support families and providers
• Regional Resource Guides available through our program website
• Targeted fact sheets, screening instruments, CDC print-on-demand resources, and web sources available for parent and provider use